Michael Creed
Ceist:63 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of the submission he made to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution regarding electoral reform. [6011/00]
Written Answers. - Electoral System.
Michael Bell
Ceist:77 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the submission, if any, he has made or will make to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution on proposals for changes to the electoral system; the main points of his submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5962/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 77 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 117 of 26 January 2000.
I was invited to meet the Oireachtas JointCommittee on the Constitution to discuss electoral reform and I did so, along with former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, on 9 February 2000. While I would have liked these discussions to be held in public I was advised by the chairman that, as the committee was not established by resolution of the Houses of the Oireachtas, television facilities would not be available nor would the committee enjoy parliamentary privilege.
At the discussions on 9 February I reiterated my personal view, conveyed in earlier correspondence and in reply to a questionnaire circulated to Deputies and Senators, that we should change our electoral system to one using STV in single seat constituencies. I also indicated that, in order to ensure proportionality and representation for smaller parties and individuals, it would probably be necessary to incorporate a list element. It is now a matter for the committee to consider these and other views and I look forward to the publication of its report which will, I hope, provide the basis for an informed public debate on our electoral system and the scope for reform.